[Effects of different temperatures on the growth and energy budget of Chinese shrimp, Fenneropenaeus chinensis].

The effect of temperature on the growth and energy budget of Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis was studied at 18, 22, 25, 28, 31 and 34 degrees C. The results showed that its specific growth rate in terms of body weight and energy accumulation increased with temperature between 18 degrees C and 31 degrees C, and then decreased significantly at 34 degrees C. The similar trend was observed in food consumption and apparent digestion rate. The food conversion efficiency in weight and energy were 28.99%-53.09% and 15.70%-7.24%, respectively, which decreased with increasing temperature. The optimum temperature for the growth of shrimp was calculated from the relationship of SGR, which was 29.7 degrees C in this study. The energy budget of shrimp showed that the energy assimilated from food decreased with increasing temperature, while that spent in metabolism increased with increasing temperature. The results indicated that the high growth rate of Chinese shrimp at suitable temperature mainly resulted from the significant increase of food consumption and apparent digestion rate at corresponding temperature regimes.